Dispensing package



Oct. 20, 1942. M, J. ESTENES DISPENSING PACKAGE Filed Aug. 1, 1941Fig.4.

Inventor: Michael J. Estenes,

b WW, 6. AM y His Attorney Patented Oct. 20, 1942 DISPENSING PACKAGEMichael J. Estenes, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General ElectricCompany, a corporation of New York Application August 1, 1941, SerialNo. 404,953 3 Claims. (01. 15 -136) My invention relates to dispensingpackages, particularly to dispensing packages for liquids, and has forits object a reliable and inexpensive package providing for theapplication of a liquid, such as glue, to a work piece.

In carrying out my invention in one form, I provide a cylindricalcontainer of a size which can be conveniently grasped by the hand. Toone end of this container I secure a compressible bellows device whichcommunicates with the interior of the container and is provided withapertures through which the liquid may be exuded. Thus by engagement ofthe end of the bellows with the work and compression of the bellows, theliquid in the container is forced out of the apertures onto a workpiece.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference should behad to the accompanying drawing, Fi l of which is a side elevation viewof a dispensing package embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlargedsectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows; Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectionalview of the device shown in Fig. 1; while Fig. 4 is a perspective viewof the end and bearing member for the compressible bellows.

Referring to the drawing, my invention in one form comprises acylindrical container ID of such size that it may be convenientlygrasped by the hand of the operator. At its lower end, as seen in thedrawing, this container is provided with a compressible bellows device II. This bellows device is made of a suitable thin spring material suchas brass or bronze. It is cylindrical in form and is formed or shapedinto a plurality of deep peripheral corrugations l2. These corrugationsgive the device the property of compressibility in an endwise direction,the device by reason of its resiliency returning to its original formupon the removal of the pressure.

To facilitate the connection of the compressible bellows II to thecontainer III, a neck or tapered portion 13 is formed on or secured tothe lower end of the container and a portion of reduced diameter forminga flange [4 on the upper end of the bellows is inserted in the lower endof this neck I3. The two parts are then secured rigidly and tightlytogether by means of a soldered or welded joint IS on the exterior, thisjoint forming an hermetic seal between the two parts.

On its lower end the bellows has secured tightly to it a cylindricalplate or bearing member l6 provided with an exterior central centeringprojection l1. As shown, the lower edge l8 of the bellows is bent aroundthe periphery of the plate I6 and clamped onto the plate. A permanentjoint is formed by a soldered or brazed connection l9 between the twoparts. As shown in Fig. 4, the plate I6 has a relatively thin peripheralportion 20 and a thicker central portion 2|, and the exterior anglebetween the parts 20 and 2| is preferably filled with the soldering orbrazing material of the joint l9.

Also secured centrally to the plate [6 on its upper side, as seen in thedrawing, and preferably formed integrally with the plate is a tubularmember 22 which extends inside the bellows in concentric relationtherewith to a point adjacent the upper end of the bellows, as seen inthe drawing. This tubular member moves upward when the bellows iscompressed and its upper end engages the barrier wall 23 forming theupper end wall of the bellows device whereby the compressibility of thebellows is limited to a desired amount. Also the tubular member is ofsuch size that its upper end will engage the inner wall of the bellowsin the event that the bellows is unevenly compressed thereby to preventbending of the bellows beyond the resilient limit of its material andpermanent distortion of the bellows. The wall 23 is provided withapertures 24 through which liquid in the container flows downward intothe bellows and tubular member 22, and apertures 25 are provided in theupper and lower ends of the tubular member to facilitate the free flowof liquid. Also, the plate I6 is provided with a plurality of spacedapertures 26 arranged in a circle extending through the solder l9 intothe interior of the bellows. The liquid material in the package is fedout of these holes 26.

In the operation of the device, the container I0 is partially orcompletely filled with the liquid to be dispensed, such as glue, andthen the container is sealed at the top by means of a tight cap 21. Thecap is preferably constructed, as shown, with the plane of its lower endextending obliquely with respect to the axis of the container thereby tofacilitate the insertion of the cap in the container. The container isthen grasped by the hand of the operator and the bearing projection I Iplaced against the work to which the liquid is to be applied andpressure exerted, whereby the bellows is compressed and a desired amountof liquid forced out through the openings 26. It will be understood thatthe compression of the bellows creates a fluid pressure in thecontainer, which is sealed except for the apertures 26,

whereby the liquid is forced out of the apertures. As the liquid isdispensed, air is drawn into the container through the apertures 26 bythe expansion or springing back of the bellows to its original form whenthe pressure is removed.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the application of the device to a work piece 28consisting of a cylindrical knob mad of moulded material. In fact, thelower end of the dispensing device is especially adapted for this typeof work piece. As shown, the centering projection ll fits loosely intothe central depression 29 in the knob whereby the lower end of thedevice is centered and the feed apertures 26 are held just above theflat circular shoulder 30 in the upper end of the knob. Thus when thebellows is now compressed, a quantity of the liquid is forced out of theapertures 26 onto this shoulder 30. The dispensing device is thenremoved and a circular plate (not shown) closing the upper end of theknob is put in place on the shoulder 30 and secured by the groove.

Thus it will be observed that this dispensing operation can be carriedout very quickly and a quantity of glue can be applied to each of alarge number of knobs in a very short time.

In the operation of the device for dispensing glue, the glue afterrepeated applications to work pieces becomes smeared over the lower endof the bellows and eventually may impede the collapsing of the bellowsand feeding of the glue to the work piece. Preferably, therefore, asshown in Fig. 1, I provide a cylindrical metal sheath 3| forming ashield for the bellows. This sheath is of such diameter as to slidefreely over the cylindrical container portion It) in telescopic relationtherewith. Its lower portion extends over and encloses the bellows whileits lower end is partially enclosed so as to fit onto the member E6 towhich it is suitably secured as by soldering to form a tight joint. Thusthe glue is prevented from getting into contact with the bellows.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will beunderstood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto, sincemany modifications may be made and I, therefore, contemplate by theappended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A dispensing package for liquids comprising a container for holding aquantity of the liquid to be dispensed, a compressible bellows securedto said container with one end communicating with the interior of saidcontainer, a member provided with an aperture closing the other end ofsaid bellows and forming a bearing member for engagement with a workpiece, said container being sealed except for said aperture so that whensaid bearing member is brought into engagement with a work piece andpressure toward said work piece applied to said container to compresssaid bellows a fluid pressure is produced in the interior of saidcontainer and the liquid in said container is forced out of saidaperture onto the work piece, and an outer tubular shield for saidbellows secured to said end member enclosing said bellows and extendinginto sliding relation with said first tubular member.

2. A package for dispensing a liquid onto a predetermined portion of awork piece comprising a tubular member, a compressibl cylindricalbellows having one end secured to one end of said tubular member andcommunicating with the interior of said tubular member, an end memberprovided with an aperture secured to and closing the other end of saidbellows except for said aperture, a cover for the other end of saidtubular member, said cover being removable to provide for the deposit ofa quantity of liquid into said tubular member and said cover sealingsaid tubular member and bellows except for said aperture so that when.said tubular member is held in an upright position with said bellows atthe lower end with said end member in engagement with a workpiece, andsaid tubular member then depressed so as to compress said bellows, afluid pressure is produced in the interior of said tubular member andthe liquid in said tubular memher is forced out of said aperture ontothe portion of said work piece engaged by said end member, a tubularstop secured to the inner side of said end member and extending incentral spaced relation with said bellows thereby to prevent damaginglateral displacement of said bellows,

and a perforated wall in said tubular member arranged to be engaged bysaid stop thereby to limit the compression of said bellows.

3. A dispensing package for liquids comprising a tubular member forcontaining the liquid to be dispensed, a cap sealing one end of saidtubular member, a compressible cylindrical bellows having one endsecured to the other end of said tubular member and. communicating withthe interior of said tubular member, an end member sealing th other endof said bellows provided with a guide projection, said end member beingprovided with a plurality of spaced apertures around said projection fordispensing liquid onto a surface located by said projection, a tubularstop secured to the inner side of said end member and extending incentral spaced relation with said bellows thereby to prevent damaginglateral displacement of said bellows, a wall provided with apertures insaid tubular member adjacent the upper end of said stop thereby to beengaged by said stop and limit the compression of said bellows, and anouter tubular shield for said bellows secured to said end memberenclosing said bellows and extending into sliding relation with saidfirst tubular member.

MICHAEL J. ESTENES.

